Writing IPv4 or IPv6 information into an nfc tag attached to an image forming apparatus

ABSTRACT

When a plurality of types of IP addresses is enabled in an information processing apparatus, the information processing apparatus selects an Internet Protocol (IP) address to be written to a near field communication (NFC) tag. Then, the information processing apparatus generates tag information based on the selected IP address, and writes the generated tag information to the NFC tag.

BACKGROUND Field

Aspects of the present invention generally relate to an informationprocessing apparatus including a near field communication (NFC) tag.

Description of the Related Art

Mobile terminals, such as smartphones and tablet personal computers(PCs), have a wireless communication function. For example, the wirelesscommunication function is used in such a manner that a picture or anelectronic document stored in the mobile terminal is transmitted to aprinting device via wireless communication, and then printed by theprinting device.

When the mobile terminal executes wireless communication with aninformation processing apparatus, such as a printing device, the mobileterminal needs to connect to an access point to establish the wirelesscommunication. One known procedure for establishing the wirelesscommunication includes a handover via NFC (Japanese Patent ApplicationLaid-Open No. 2013-157736). The handover is a method for acquiringconnection information (e.g., a service set identifier (SSID) of theaccess point), required for executing the wireless communication, viaproximity wireless communication such as the NFC, and establishingwireless communication based on the acquired connection information.With the handover, the user only needs to bring the mobile terminalclose to (only needs to touch) the information processing apparatus,such as a printing device, to establish wireless communication betweenthe mobile terminal and the information processing apparatus.

When the handover is performed via the proximity wireless communication,the connection information needs to be prepared in advance in aproximity wireless communication tag (e.g., an NFC tag) of aninformation processing apparatus such as a printing device. Theconnection information in the proximity wireless communication tagincludes the SSID of an access point and an Internet Protocol (IP)address of the information processing apparatus.

The IP address of the information processing apparatus includes aplurality of types of IP addresses such as an Internet Protocol version4 (IPv4) address and an Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) address. Withthe technique discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.2013-157736, appropriate information cannot be written to the proximitywireless communication tag, taking into consideration the plurality oftypes of IP addresses.

SUMMARY

In view of the above, aspects of the present invention are generallydirected to a technique for writing appropriate information to aproximity wireless communication tag based on a type of an IP addressset in an information processing apparatus.

An information processing apparatus according to an aspect of thepresent invention includes a near field communication (NFC) tag, ageneration unit configured to generate tag information to be writteninto the NFC tag based on an Internet Protocol (IP) address setting setin the information processing apparatus, and a writing unit configuredto write the tag information generated by the generation unit into theNFC tag. The tag information written into the NFC tag readable by anexternal device via NFC, while the IP address setting includes anInternet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) address setting and an InternetProtocol version 6 (IPv6) address setting.

Further features of aspects of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments withreference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a print system.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printingdevice.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a near fieldcommunication (NFC) tag.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams each illustrating a setting screen withwhich an Internet Protocol (IP) addresses related setting is performed.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a setting screen with which taginformation related setting is performed.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams each illustrating a configuration of thetag information.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating processing according to a firstexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating processing according to a secondexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating processing according to a thirdexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating processing according to a fourthexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of tag information.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating processing according to a fifthexemplary embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described below withreference to the drawings. The exemplary embodiments described below arenot intended to limit the scope of aspects of the invention according toclaims, and not all the combinations of features of the exemplaryembodiments, are essential to solutions for the aspects of the presentinvention.

A first exemplary embodiment of the present invention is describedbelow. First, a configuration of a print system according to the presentexemplary embodiment is described with reference to FIG. 1. A printingdevice 100 is connected to a network 120, and can communicate with anexternal device such as a personal computer (PC) 110 and a mobileterminal 130 through the network 120. The PC 110 transmits print data tothe printing device 100 through the network 120. The mobile terminal 130transmits print data to the printing device 100 through an access point140. The printing device 100 that has received the print data canexecute print processing based on the received print data.

The printing device 100 can execute proximity wireless communicationbased on near field communication (NFC). When a user brings the mobileterminal 130 close to the printing device 100, the mobile terminal 130acquires tag information (information that has been written in a NFCtag) from the NFC tag of the printing device 100 via the NFC. Forexample, the tag information includes an Internet Protocol (IP) addressof the printing device 100 and a service set identifier (SSID) of theaccess point 140. The mobile terminal 130 that has acquired the taginformation connects to the access point 140 via wireless communicationsuch as wireless local area network (LAN), and transmits the print datato the printing device 100 through the access point 140. In this manner,the user of the mobile terminal 130 only needs a simple operation ofbringing the mobile terminal 130 close to the printing device 100 toacquire the information required for transmitting the print data to theprinting device 100.

Next, a configuration of the printing device 100 is described withreference to FIG. 2. The printing device 100, which is assumed to be amultifunction peripheral (MFP) in the present exemplary embodiment, maybe a printing device having no scanner function.

A central processing unit (CPU) 201 reads out a control program storedin a read only memory (ROM) 202, and executes various processing forcontrolling an operation of the printing device 100. The CPU 201 isconnected to other units through a bus 200. The ROM 202 stores thecontrol program. A random access memory (RAM) 203 is used as a mainmemory and a temporary storage area such as a work area for the CPU 201.A hard disk drive (HDD) 204 stores various data such as print data andscan images.

In the printing device 100, a single CPU 201 executes each process in aflowchart described below. However, another configuration may beemployed. For example, a plurality of CPUs may work together to executeeach process in the flowchart described below. The processingillustrated in the flowcharts may be partially executed by a hardwarecircuit.

A wireless communication unit 205 has a wireless LAN function, andexecutes wireless communication with the access point 140. The wirelesscommunication unit 205 can operate in an access point mode. When thewireless communication unit 205 operates in the access point mode,direct wireless communication can be established between the mobileterminal 130 and the printing device 100 with the wireless communicationunit 205 serving as the access point. The direct wireless communicationcan be established between the mobile terminal 130 and the printingdevice 100 not only with the access point mode, but can also beestablished with another wireless system such as Wi-Fi Direct(registered trademark).

An NFC tag 212 executes proximity wireless communication with the mobileterminal 130 based on the NFC. The NFC tag 212 is an example of aproximity wireless communication tag from which an external device canread information via the proximity wireless communication.

A configuration of the NFC tag 212 is described in detail with referenceto FIG. 3. The NFC tag 212 includes an antenna 301, a controller 302,and a memory 303.

The antenna 301 is an antenna for executing the wireless communicationbased on the NFC with the external device. The controller 302 isconnected to the bus 200, and controls an operation of the antenna 301and writes tag information into the memory 303, according to aninstruction from the CPU 201. The memory 303 stores therein the taginformation written by the controller 302. The tag information stored inthe memory 303 is readable by the mobile terminal 130 via the NFC.

Referring back to FIG. 2, a printer I/F 206 connects a printer 207 withthe bus 200. The printer 207 executes print processing on a sheet, basedon print data received from the external device, a scan image generatedby a scanner 209, and the like.

A scanner I/F 208 connects the scanner 209 with the bus 200. The scanner209 reads an original and generates a scan image. The scan imagegenerated by the scanner 209 is printed by the printer 207 or stored inthe HDD 204.

An operation unit I/F 210 connects an operation unit 211 with the bus200. The operation unit 211 includes a liquid crystal display, having atouch panel function, and a keyboard, and displays various operationscreens. The user can input an instruction and information to theprinting device 100 via the operation unit 211.

A network I/F 213 is connected to the network 120, and executescommunication with the external device on the network 120. The networkI/F 213 receives print data transmitted from the external device, andthen the printer 207 executes the print processing based on the receivedprint data.

The printing device 100 is an example of an information processingapparatus including the NFC tag, and thus an information processingapparatus to which aspects of the present invention can be applied isnot limited to the printing device 100. More specifically, aspects ofthe present invention can be applied to a digital camera, a videocamera, and a mobile terminal, such as a smartphone and a tabletpersonal computer (PC), including a proximity wireless communication tagsuch as the NFC tag.

Next, an IP address setting in the printing device 100 is described. Inthe present exemplary embodiment, either one of an Internet Protocolversion 4 (IPv4) address and an Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6)address or both can be set in the printing device 100.

A setting screen 400 illustrated in FIG. 4A, with which the IP addressis set in the printing device 100, is displayed by the operation unit211 according to a user operation. An item 401 is used for selectingwhether the IPv4 address is used. In the item 401, the user can selecteither “enable” or “disable”. When “enable” is selected, the IPv4address, which is set via a setting screen 410 (described below), isenabled in the printing device 100. An item 402 is an item used forselecting whether to use the IPv6 address, and the user can selecteither one of “enable” and “disable” through a touch operation forexample. When “enable” is selected, the IPv6 address set via the settingscreen 410 (described below) is enabled in the printing device 100.

The printing device 100 can operate in a state where either one of theIPv4 address and the IPv6 address is enabled, and in a state where boththe IPv4 address and the IPv6 address are enabled. When “disable” is setfor both the IPv4 address and the IPv6 address via the setting screen400, the printing device 100 cannot execute transmission controlprotocol (TCP)/IP communication. Accordingly, it is desirable that atleast one of the IPv4 address and the IPv6 address is enabled in theprinting device 100.

When the user selects a button 403 on the setting screen 400, theoperation unit 211 displays the setting screen 410 illustrated in FIG.4B. The setting screen 410 is a screen for determining the IPv4 addressand the IPv6 address to be allocated to the printing device 100. Whenthe user selects a button 413 on the setting screen 410, setting resultsperformed on the setting screen 400 and the setting screen 410 arestored in a memory, such as the HDD 204, as device settings.

In an item 411, the user can select either one of “IPv4 manual settings”and “IPv4 automatic settings” as a way for determining the IPv4 address.When the user selects “IPv4 manual settings”, an address input screen(not illustrated) is displayed and the user inputs a desired IPv4address. When the user then selects the button 413, the IPv4 address,input by the user, is enabled in the printing device 100.

When the user selects “IPv4 automatic settings”, the IPv4 address isallocated to the printing device 100 from an external device such as adynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) server. When the user thenselects the button 413, the IPv4 address, allocated to the printingdevice 100 from the external device such as the DHCP server, is enabledin the printing device 100.

When “enable” is set for the IPv6 address on the setting screen 400, alink local address is automatically generated by the printing device 100and is enabled in the printing device 100. When the IPv6 address isused, an IPv6 address other than the link local address can be set inthe printing device 100. An item 412 on the setting screen 410 is usedwhen an IPv6 address, other than the link local address, is to be set inthe printing device 100.

When the user selects the “IPv6 manual settings”, an address inputscreen (not illustrated) is displayed and the user inputs a desired IPv6address. When the user then selects the button 413, the IPv6 addressinput by the user is enabled in the printing device 100.

When “stateless address” is selected, the printing device 100automatically generates the IPv6 address, based on a RouterAdvertisement (RA) packet transmitted from the router. When the userthen selects the button 413, the stateless address thus automaticallygenerated is enabled in the printing device 100.

When the user selects “IPv6 automatic settings”, the IPv6 address isallocated to the printing device 100 from the external device such asthe DHCP server. When the user then selects the button 413, the IPv6address allocated from the external device such as the DHCP server isenabled in the printing device 100.

As described above, with the setting screen 400 and the setting screen410, the user can set either one of the IPv4 address and the IPv6address or both in the printing device 100. The printing device 100writes the tag information into the memory 303 of the NFC tag 212.However, the memory 303 has a capacity only large enough for one of theIPv4 address and the IPv6 address to be written. Accordingly, a featureof the present exemplary embodiment is that the user sets either one ofthe IPv4 address and the IPv6 address to be written into the memory 303of the NFC tag 212, when both the IPv4 address and the IPv6 address areenabled in the printing device 100.

A setting screen 500 illustrated in FIG. 5 is a screen used by the userto select either one of the IPv4 address and the IPv6 address to bewritten into the memory 303 of the NFC tag 212, when both the IPv4address and the IPv6 address are enabled in the printing device 100. Thesetting screen 500 is displayed by the operation unit 211 according toan operation of the user.

The user can select either one of the IPv4 address and the IPv6 addresson the setting screen 500. When the user selects the IPv4 address on thesetting screen 500, tag information including the IPv4 address andincluding no IPv6 address is written into the NFC tag 212, in a casewhere both the IPv4 address and the IPv6 address are enabled in theprinting device 100. For example, it is desirable that the user selectsthe IPv4 address on the setting screen 500 in an environment with alarge number of mobile terminals and applications compatible with theIPv4 address.

On the other hand, when the user selects the IPv6 address on the settingscreen 500, tag information including the IPv6 address and including noIPv4 address is written into the NFC tag 212, in the case where both theIPv4 address and the IPv6 address are enabled in the printing device100. For example, it is desirable that the user selects the IPv6 addresson the setting screen 500 in an environment with a large number ofmobile terminals and applications compatible with the IPv6 address.

When the user selects an apply button on the 500, the setting result onthe setting screen 500 is stored in the memory, such as the HDD 204, asthe device settings.

Next, a configuration of the tag information to be written in the NFCtag 212 is described with reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B. The taginformation according to the present exemplary embodiment is in a formatknown as an NFC Data Exchange Format (NDEF) defined by the NFC forum.

Tag information 600 illustrated in FIG. 6A is the tag informationincluding the IPv4 address of the printing device 100. The taginformation 600 at least includes application startup information 601,an SSID 602, a connection key 603, and an IPv4 address 604.

The application startup information 601 is information for starting apredetermined application in the mobile terminal 130 that has read thetag information 600. For example, when identification information abouta predetermined print application corresponding to the printing device100 is designated, the predetermined print application can start in themobile terminal 130 that has read the tag information 600.

The SSID 602 is an SSID of the access point 140. The connection key 603is a connection key used for connecting to the access point 140. Withthese pieces of information included in the tag information, the mobileterminal 130 that has read the tag information can be automaticallyconnected to the access point 140. The SSID of the access point 140 andthe connection key are registered in a memory such as the HDD 204 of theprinting device 100 in advance. The printing device 100 generates thetag information 600 based on the SSID and the connection key that havebeen registered in advance.

The IPv4 address 604 is an IPv4 address enabled in the printing device100. The mobile terminal 130 that has read the tag information transmitsthe print data to the printing device 100, with the IPv4 addressrepresenting the destination.

On the other hand, tag information 610 illustrated in FIG. 6B is taginformation including the IPv6 address of the printing device 100.Application startup information 611, an SSID 612, and a connection key613 are respectively similar to the application startup information 601,the SSID 602, and the connection key 603 described with reference toFIG. 6A. An IPv6 address 614 is an IPv6 address enabled in the printingdevice 100.

It is assumed in the present exemplary embodiment that in the printingdevice 100, which may operate in a state where a plurality of the IPv6addresses are enabled, the link local address is used as the IPv6address 614. An IPv6 address, other than the link local address, such asa stateless address may be used as the IPv6 address included in the taginformation. In such a case, for example, a selection screen in whichthe IPv6 address to be included in the tag information is selected bythe user from a plurality of IPv6 addresses may be displayed, and theIPv6 address having been selected in the selection screen may beincluded in the tag information.

Next, processing in which the printing device 100 generates the taginformation and writes the generated tag information into the NFC tag212 is described with reference to a flowchart illustrated in FIG. 7.Each step in the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 7 is executed by the CPU201 loading the control program stored in the memory, such as the ROM202, onto the RAM 203 and executing the control program. The processingin the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 7 is executed as initial processingexecuted when the printing device 100 is turned ON, or executed when thesetting of the IP address, in the printing device 100, is changed viathe setting screen 400 and the setting screen 410.

In step S701, the CPU 201 determines whether the IPv4 address is enabledin the printing device 100. When the CPU 201 determines that the IPv4address is enabled in the printing device 100 (YES in step S701), theprocessing proceeds to step S702. On the other hand, when the CPU 201determines that the IPv4 address is not enabled in the printing device100 (NO in step S701), the processing proceeds to step S706.

In step S702, the CPU 201 determines whether the IPv6 address is enabledin the printing device 100. When the CPU 201 determines that the IPv6address is enabled in the printing device 100 (YES in step S702), theprocessing proceeds to step S703. On the other hand, when the CPU 201determines that the IPv6 address is not enabled in the printing device100 (NO in step S702), the processing proceeds to step S704.

Next, step S703 is described. Processing in step S703 is executed whenboth the IPv4 address and the IPv6 address are enabled in the printingdevice 100. In step S703, the CPU 201 determines whether the IPv4address or the IPv6 address is to be written as the tag information, byreferring to the setting result, performed via the setting screen 500,stored in the memory such as the HDD 204. When the IPv4 address has beenselected, as information to be included in the tag information, on thesetting screen 500 (IPv4 address in step S703), the processing proceedsto step S704. On the other hand, when the IPv6 address has beenselected, as information to be included in the tag information, on thesetting screen 500 (IPv6 address in step S703), the processing proceedsto step S707.

Next, step S704 is described. Processing in step S704 is executed whenonly the IPv4 address is enabled in the printing device 100 or when boththe IPv4 address and the IPv6 address are enabled and the IPv4 addresshas been selected as the information to be included in the taginformation.

In step S704, the CPU 201 generates the tag information including theIPv4 address. The tag information generated in step S704 is the taginformation 600 described with reference to FIG. 6A. Even when both theIPv4 address and the IPv6 address are enabled in the printing device100, the tag information generated in step S704 includes no IPv6address. When the tag information is generated, the processing proceedsto step S705. In step S705, the CPU 201 writes the tag information 600generated in step S704 to the NFC tag 212. More specifically, the CPU201 instructs the controller 302 to write the tag information 600 intothe memory 303, and thus the controller 302 writes the tag information600 into the memory 303.

Next, step S706 is described. In step S706, the CPU 201 determineswhether the IPv6 address is enabled in the printing device 100. When theCPU 201 determines that the IPv6 address is enabled in the printingdevice 100 (YES in step S706), the processing proceeds to step S707. Onthe other hand, when the CPU 201 determines that the IPv6 address is notenabled in the printing device 100 (NO in step S706), the processingproceeds to step S708.

Next, step S707 is described. Processing in step S707 is executed whenonly the IPv6 address is enabled in the printing device 100 or when boththe IPv4 address and the IPv6 address are enabled and the IPv6 addresshas been selected as the information to be included in the taginformation.

In step S707, the CPU 201 generates the tag information including theIPv6 address. The tag information generated in step S707 is the taginformation 610 described with reference to FIG. 6B. Even when both theIPv4 address and the IPv6 address are enabled in the printing device100, the tag information generated in step S707 includes no IPv4address. When the tag information is generated, the processing proceedsto step S705. In step S705, the CPU 201 writes the tag information 610generated in step S707 into the NFC tag 212. More specifically, the CPU201 instructs the controller 302 to write the tag information 610 intothe memory 303, and thus the controller 302 writes the tag information610 to the memory 303.

Next, step S708 is described. In step S708, the CPU 201 restricts theuse of the NFC tag 212. Processing in step S708 is executed when neitherthe IPv4 address nor the IPv6 address is enabled in the printing device100. In such a case, the printing device 100 cannot execute the TCP/IPcommunication, and thus cannot receive the print data. Accordingly, inthe present exemplary embodiment, the use of the NFC tag 212 isrestricted when neither the IPv4 address nor the IPv6 address is enabledin the printing device 100.

More specifically, the CPU 201 restricts the use of the NFC tag 212 bystopping the power supply to the NFC tag 212, so that the NFC tag 212can no longer operate. In this case, nothing occurs when the usertouches the NFC tag 212 with the mobile terminal 130, so that the use ofthe NFC tag 212 is restricted. Alternatively, the CPU 201 may restrictthe use of the NFC tag 212 by writing no information to the memory 303of the NFC tag 212 (and by deleting information that has been written).In this case, no information can be read from the NFC tag 212 when theuser touches the NFC tag 212 with the mobile terminal 130, so that theuse of the NFC tag 212 is restricted.

As described above, in the present exemplary embodiment, appropriate taginformation can be written in the NFC tag 212 based on the type of theIP address set to the printing device 100. In particular, when aplurality of IP addresses, such as the IPv4 address and the IPv6address, is set to the printing device 100, either one of the IPv4address and the IPv6 address is selected, and the tag informationincluding a selected address can be written into the NFC tag 212.

A second exemplary embodiment of the present invention is describedbelow. In the present exemplary embodiment, a configuration in which theIPv4 address is always written into the NFC tag 212 when both the IPv4address and the IPv6 address are enabled in the printing device 100 isdescribed as a modified example of the first exemplary embodiment. Theconfiguration of the printing device 100 is similar to that in the firstexemplary embodiment. In the present exemplary embodiment, the printingdevice 100 involves no setting described with reference to the settingscreen 500 illustrated in FIG. 5.

Processing in which the printing device 100 generates tag informationand writes the generated tag information into the NFC tag 212 isdescribed with reference to a flowchart illustrated in FIG. 8. Each stepin the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 8 is executed by the CPU 201loading the control program stored in the memory, such as the ROM 202,onto the RAM 203 and executing the control program. The processingillustrated in the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 8 is executed asinitial processing executed when the printing device 100 is turned ON,or executed when the IP address setting in the printing device 100 ischanged via the setting screen 400 and the setting screen 410.

In step S801, the CPU 201 determines whether the IPv4 address is enabledin the printing device 100. When the CPU 201 determines that the IPv4address is enabled in the printing device 100 (YES in step S801), theprocessing proceeds to step S802. On the other hand, when the CPU 201determines that the IPv4 address is not enabled in the printing device100 (NO in step S801), the processing proceeds to step S804.

In step S802, the CPU 201 generates the tag information including theIPv4 address. The tag information generated in step S802 is the taginformation 600 described with reference to FIG. 6A. In the presentexemplary embodiment, also when both the IPv4 address and the IPv6address are enabled in the printing device 100, the tag information 600including no IPv6 address is generated in step S802. When the CPU 201determines that the IPv4 address is enabled in step S801 (YES in stepS801), the processing in step S802 is executed without the CPU 201determining whether the IPv6 address is enabled.

Next, in step S803, the CPU 201 writes the tag information 600 generatedin step S802 into the NFC tag 212.

Processing in steps S804, S805, and S806 is similar to that in stepsS706, S707, and S708, and thus will not be described in detail.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the tag information 600 includingthe IPv4 address is written into the NFC tag 212 when only the IPv4address is enabled in the printing device 100 or when both the IPv4address and the IPv6 address are enabled in the printing device 100. Thetag information 610 including the IPv6 address is written into the NFCtag 212 when only the IPv6 address is enabled in the printing device100.

A third exemplary embodiment of the present invention is describedbelow. In the present exemplary embodiment, a configuration in which theIPv6 address is always written into the NFC tag 212 when both the IPv4address and the IPv6 address are enabled in the printing device 100 isdescribed as a modified example of the first exemplary embodiment. Theconfiguration of the printing device 100 is similar to that in the firstexemplary embodiment. In the present exemplary embodiment, the printingdevice 100 involves no setting described with reference to the settingscreen 500 illustrated in FIG. 5.

Processing in which the printing device 100 generates tag informationand writes the tag information into the NFC tag 212 is described withreference to a flowchart illustrated in FIG. 9. Each step in theflowchart illustrated in FIG. 9 is executed by the CPU 201 loading thecontrol program stored in the memory, such as the ROM 202, onto the RAM203 and executing the control program. The processing illustrated in theflowchart illustrated in FIG. 9 is executed as initial processingexecuted when the printing device 100 is turned ON, or executed when theIP address setting in the printing device 100 is changed via the settingscreen 400 and the setting screen 410.

In step S901, the CPU 201 determines whether the IPv6 address is enabledin the printing device 100. When the CPU 201 determines that the IPv6address is enabled in the printing device 100 (YES in step S901), theprocessing proceeds to step S902. On the other hand, when the CPU 201determines that the IPv6 address is not enabled in the printing device100 (NO in step S901), the processing proceeds to step S904.

In step S902, the CPU 201 generates the tag information including theIPv6 address. The tag information generated in step S902 is the taginformation 610 described with reference to FIG. 6B. In the presentexemplary embodiment, also when both the IPv4 address and the IPv6address are enabled in the printing device 100, the tag information 610including no IPv4 address is generated in step S902. When the CPU 201determines that the IPv6 address is enabled in step S901 (YES in stepS901), the processing in step S902 is executed without the CPU 201determining whether the IPv4 address is enabled.

Then, in step S903, the CPU 201 writes the tag information generated instep S902 into the NFC tag 212.

Next, step S904 is described. In step S904, the CPU 201 determineswhether the IPv4 address is enabled in the printing device 100. When theCPU 201 determines that the IPv4 address is enabled in the printingdevice 100 (YES in step S904), the processing proceeds to step S905. Onthe other hand, when the CPU 201 determines that the IPv4 address is notenabled in the printing device 100 (NO in step S904), the processingproceeds to step S906.

In step S905, the CPU 201 generates the tag information including theIPv4 address. The tag information generated in step S905 is the taginformation 600 described with reference to FIG. 6A. In step S903, theCPU 201 writes the tag information 600 generated in step S905 into theNFC tag 212.

Processing in step S906 is similar to that in step S708 described withreference to FIG. 7, and thus will not be described in detail.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the tag information 600 includingthe IPv4 address is written into the NFC tag 212 when only the IPv4address is enabled in the printing device 100. The tag information 610including the IPv6 address is written into the NFC tag 212 when only theIPv6 address is enabled in the printing device 100 or when both the IPv4address and the IPv6 address are enabled in the printing device 100.

A fourth exemplary embodiment is described below. In many cases, themobile terminal 130 or an application to be installed in the mobileterminal 130 is compatible with the IPv4 address but is not compatiblewith the IPv6 address. Accordingly, a feature of the present exemplaryembodiment is that when the IPv4 address is not enabled and the IPv6address is enabled in the printing device 100, appropriate taginformation, taking into consideration of a communication partner notcompatible with the IPv6 address, is written into the NFC tag 212. Theconfiguration of the printing device 100 is similar to that in the firstexemplary embodiment. In the present exemplary embodiment, the printingdevice 100 involves no setting described with reference to the settingscreen 500 illustrated in FIG. 5.

Processing in which the printing device 100 generates tag informationand writes the generated tag information into the NFC tag 212 isdescribed with reference to a flowchart illustrated in FIG. 10. Eachstep in the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 10 is executed by the CPU 201loading the control program stored in the memory, such as the ROM 202,onto the RAM 203 and executing the control program. The processingillustrated in the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 10 is executed asinitial processing executed when the printing device 100 is turned ON,or executed when the IP address setting in the printing device 100 ischanged via the setting screen 400 and the setting screen 410.

In step S1001, the CPU 201 determines whether the IPv4 address isenabled in the printing device 100. When the CPU 201 determines that theIPv4 address is enabled in the printing device 100 (YES in step S1001),the processing proceeds to step S1002. On the other hand, when the CPU201 determines that the IPv4 address is not enabled in the printingdevice 100 (NO in step S1001), the processing proceeds to step S1004.

In step S1002, the CPU 201 generates the tag information including theIPv4 address. The tag information generated in step S1002 is the taginformation 600 described with reference to FIG. 6A. In the presentexemplary embodiment, also when both the IPv4 address and the IPv6address are enabled in the printing device 100, the tag information 600including no IPv6 address is generated in step S1002. When the CPU 201determines that the IPv4 address is enabled in the printing device 100in step S1001 (YES in step S1001), the processing in step S1002 isexecuted without the CPU 201 determining whether the IPv6 address isenabled.

Then, in step S1003, the CPU 201 writes the tag information 600generated in step S1002 into the NFC tag 212.

Next, step S1004 is described. In step S1004, the CPU 201 determineswhether the IPv6 address is enabled in the printing device 100. When theCPU 201 determines that the IPv6 address is enabled in the printingdevice 100 (YES in step S1004), the processing proceeds to step S1005.On the other hand, when the CPU 201 determines that the IPv6 address isnot enabled in the printing device 100 (NO in step S1004), theprocessing proceeds to step S1006. Processing in step S1006 is similarto that in step S708 in FIG. 7, and thus will not be described.

Step S1005 is described. Processing in step S1005 is executed when theIPv4 address is not enabled and the IPv6 address is enabled in theprinting device 100. When information including the IPv6 address such asthe tag information 610 is written into the NFC tag 212, the mobileterminal 130 or the application installed in the mobile terminal 130might not be compatible with the IPv6 address. Then, in the presentexemplary embodiment, in step S1005, the CPU 201 generates taginformation including no IPv6 address.

A configuration of the tag information generated by the CPU 201 in stepS1005 is described with reference to FIG. 11. Tag information 1100illustrated in FIG. 11 is in a format known as NDEF defined by the NFCforum as in the case of the tag information described with reference toFIGS. 6A and 6B. Application startup information 1101 is information forstating a predetermined application in the mobile terminal 130 that hasread the tag information 1100, as in the case of the application startupinformation described with reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B. An IP address1102 includes an address “0.0.0.0” instead of the IPv6 address of theprinting device 100. In the present exemplary embodiment, “0.0.0.0” isincluded as a provisional IP address, because an IP address needs to beincluded in the tag information. When no IP address needs to be includedin the tag information, the tag information 1100 may not include the IPaddress and include only the application startup information 1101.

The mobile terminal 130 that has read the tag information 1100 cannotidentify the communication partner because the IP address included inthe tag information 1100 is “0.0.0.0”, but can start up thepredetermined application according to the application startupinformation 1101. Since the predetermined application corresponding tothe printing device 100 automatically starts, the user can immediatelyperform a subsequent action such as searching for an alternativeprinting device through the application for example.

A fifth exemplary embodiment is described below. In the configurationdescribed in the fourth exemplary embodiment, the tag information 1100including no IPv6 address is written into the NFC tag 212 when the IPv4address is not enabled and the IPv6 address is enabled in the printingdevice 100. In a configuration described in the present exemplaryembodiment, the use of the NFC tag 212 is restricted when the IPv4address is not enabled and the IPv6 address is enabled in the printingdevice 100. The configuration of the printing device 100 is similar tothat in the first exemplary embodiment. In the present exemplaryembodiment, the printing device 100 involves no setting described withreference to the setting screen 500 illustrated in FIG. 5.

Processing in which the printing device 100 generates tag informationand writes the generated tag information into the NFC tag 212 isdescribed with reference to a flowchart illustrated in FIG. 12. Eachstep in the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 12 is executed by the CPU 201loading the control program stored in the memory, such as the ROM 202,onto the RAM 203 and executing the control program. The processingillustrated in the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 12 is executed asinitial processing executed when the printing device 100 is turned ON,or executed when the IP address setting in the printing device 100 ischanged via the setting screen 400 and the setting screen 410.

In step S1201, the CPU 201 determines whether the IPv4 address isenabled in the printing device 100. When the CPU 201 determines that theIPv4 address is enabled in the printing device 100 (YES in step S1201),the processing proceeds to step S1202. On the other hand, when the CPU201 determines that the IPv4 address is not enabled in the printingdevice 100 (NO in step S1201), the processing proceeds to step S1204.

In step S1202, the CPU 201 generates the tag information including theIPv4 address. The tag information generated in step S1202 is the taginformation 600 described with reference to FIG. 6A. In the presentexemplary embodiment, also when both the IPv4 address and the IPv6address are enabled in the printing device 100, the tag information 600including no IPv6 address is generated in step S1202. When the CPU 201determines that the IPv4 address is enabled in step S1201 (YES in stepS1201), the processing in step S1202 is executed with the CPU 201 notdetermining whether the IPv6 address is enabled.

Then, in step S1203, the CPU 201 writes the tag information 600generated in step S1202 into the NFC tag 212.

Next, step S1204 is described. In step S1204, the CPU 201 restricts theuse of the NFC tag 212. Processing in step S1204 is executed when theIPv4 address is not enabled and the IPv6 address is enabled in theprinting device 100 or when neither the IPv4 address nor the IPv6address is enabled in the printing device 100. In step S1204, the CPU201 restricts the use of the NFC tag 212 by stopping the power supply tothe NFC tag 212, so that the NFC tag 212 can no longer operate. In sucha case, nothing occurs when the user touches the NFC tag 212 with themobile terminal 130, so that the use of the NFC tag 212 is restricted.Alternatively, in step S204, the CPU 201 may restrict the use of the NFCtag 212 by writing no information to the memory 303 of the NFC tag 212(and by deleting information that has been written). In such a case, noinformation can be read from the NFC tag 212 even when the user touchesthe NFC tag 212 with the mobile terminal 130, so that the use of the NFCtag 212 is restricted.

As described above, in the present exemplary embodiment, the use of theNFC tag 212 can be restricted when the IPv4 address is not enabled andthe IPv6 address is enabled in the printing device 100.

Other Exemplary Embodiments

In the exemplary embodiments described above, the proximity wirelesscommunication executed by the printing device 100 is described with theNFC as an example. Alternatively, other wireless communication (e.g.,Bluetooth (registered trademark)) may be employed.

In the configurations described in the exemplary embodiments describedabove, the CPU 201 writes the tag information into the NFC tag 212.Alternatively, other configurations may be employed. More specifically,the CPU 201 may instruct a sub CPU (e.g., a sub CPU provided to theoperation unit 211) to write the tag information, and the instructed subCPU may write the tag information into the NFC tag 212.

Aspects of the present invention may be implemented through processingin which a program that implements at least one of the functions of theexemplary embodiments described above is supplied to a system or anapparatus via a network or a storage medium, and at least one processorin a computer of the system or the apparatus reads out and executes theprogram. Furthermore, aspects of the present invention can beimplemented by a circuit (e.g., an application specific integratedcircuit (ASIC)) that implements at least one of the functions.

According to aspects of the present invention, appropriate informationcan be written into a proximity wireless communication tag based on atype of an IP address of an information processing apparatus.

Other Embodiments

Embodiment(s) of aspects of the present invention can also be realizedby a computer of a system or apparatus that reads out and executescomputer executable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recordedon a storage medium (which may also be referred to more fully as a‘non-transitory computer-readable storage medium’) to perform thefunctions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/orthat includes one or more circuits (e.g., application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the functions of one or moreof the above-described embodiment(s), and by a method performed by thecomputer of the system or apparatus by, for example, reading out andexecuting the computer executable instructions from the storage mediumto perform the functions of one or more of the above-describedembodiment(s) and/or controlling the one or more circuits to perform thefunctions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s). Thecomputer may comprise one or more processors (e.g., central processingunit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU)) and may include a network ofseparate computers or separate processors to read out and execute thecomputer executable instructions. The computer executable instructionsmay be provided to the computer, for example, from a network or thestorage medium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or moreof a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM),a storage of distributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as acompact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™),a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like.

While aspects of the present invention have been described withreference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that theaspects of the invention are not limited to the disclosed exemplaryembodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded thebroadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications andequivalent structures and functions.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2015-037434, filed Feb. 26, 2015, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. An information processing apparatus comprising: anear field communication (NFC) tag that has a memory; a networkinterface; a memory that stores one or more programs; and a processorthat, when executing the one or more programs, causes the informationprocessing apparatus to perform operations comprising: controlling awriting operation to the memory of the NFC tag such that informationindicating an Internet Protocol address for communicating with anoutside apparatus via the network interface is stored in the memory ofthe NFC tag, wherein, in a situation that both an Internet Protocolversion 4 (IPv4) address and an Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6)address are assigned to the information processing apparatus as theInternet Protocol address for communicating with the outside apparatusvia the network interface, the memory of the NFC tag is in a state inwhich information indicating the assigned IPv4 address is stored butinformation indicating the assigned IPv6 address is not stored.
 2. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theoperations further comprise controlling the writing operation to thememory of the NFC tag such that information including the assigned IPv6address of the information processing apparatus is stored in the memoryof the NFC tag, upon condition that the IPv4 address is not assigned tothe infromation processing apparatus and the IPv6 address isassigned tothe infromation processing apparatus.
 3. The information processingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operations further comprisecontrolling the writing operation to the memory of the NFC tag such thatinformation including a provisional IP address but not including theassigned IPv6 address of the information processing apparatus is storedin the memory of the NFC tag, upon condition that the IPv4 address isnot assigned to the infromation processing apparatus and the IPv6address is assigned to the infromation processing apparatus, andwherein, in a situation that, as the IP address for communicating withthe outside apparatus via the network interface, the IPv4 address is notassigned so that the IPv4 address is enabled and the IPv6 address isassigned so that the IPv6 address is enabled, the memory of the NFC tagis in a state in which the information indicating the provisional IPaddress is stored but information indicating the assigned IPv6 addressis not stored.
 4. The information processing apparatus according toclaim 3, wherein the provisional IP address is “0.0.0.0”.
 5. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein theoperations further comprise, in a case where both the IPv4 address andthe IPv6 address are assigned to the infromation processing apparatus,generating the information including the assigned IPv4 address to theinformation processing apparatus but not including the assigned IPv6address to the infromation processing apparaus.
 6. The informationprocessing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the informationprocessing apparatus is a printing device that executes printprocessing.
 7. The information processing apparatus according to claim1, wherein the operations further comprise controlling the writingoperation to the memory of the NFC tag such that starting informationfor causing an external apparatus to start a predetermined applicationand information indicating the assigned IPv4 address are stored in thememory of the NFC tag in a case where both the IPv4 address and the IPv6address are assigned to the infromation processing apparatus.
 8. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theinformation including the IPv4 address of the information processingapparatus but not including the IPv6 address of the informationprocessing apparatus is written into the memory of the NFC tag uponcondition that the IPv4 address is assigned to the infromationprocessing apparatus and the IPv6 address is not assigned to theinfromation processing apparatus.
 9. A control method for an informationprocessing apparatus including a network interface and a near fieldcommunication (NFC) tag that has a memory, the control methodcomprising: controlling a writing operation to the memory of the NFC tagsuch that information indicating an Internet Protocol address forcommunicating with an outside apparatus via the network interface isstored in the memory of the NFC tag, wherein, even in a situation thatboth an Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) address and an InternetProtocol version 6 (IPv6) address are assigned to the informationprocessing apparatus as the Internet Protocol address for communicatingwith the outside apparatus via the network interface, the memory of theNFC tag is in a state in which information indicating the assigned IPv4address is stored but information indicating the assigned IPv6 addressis not stored.
 10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:controlling the writing operation to the memory of the NFC tag such thatinformation including the assigned IPv6 address of the informationprocessing apparatus is stored in the memory of the NFC tag, uponcondition that the IPv4 address is not assigned to the informationprocessing apparatus and the IPv6 address is assigned to the infromationprocessing apparatus.
 11. The method according to claim 9, furthercomprising: controlling the writing operation to the memory of the NFCtag such that information including a provisional IP address but notincluding the assigned IPv6 address of the information processingapparatus is stored in the memory of the NFC tag, upon condition thatthe IPv4 address is not assigned to the infromation processing apparatusand the IPv6 address is assigned to the infromation processingapparatus, wherein, in a situation that, as the IP address forcommunicating with the outside apparatus via the network interface, theIPv4 address is not assigned so that the IPv4 address is enabled and theIPv6 address is assigned so that the IPv6 address is enabled, the memoryof the NFC tag is in a state in which the information indicating theprovisional IP address is stored but information indicating the assignedIPv6 address is not stored.
 12. The method according to claim 11,wherein the provisional IP address is “0.0.0.0”.
 13. The methodaccording to claim 11, further comprising: in a case where both the IPv4address and the IPv6 address are assigned to the information processingapparatus, generating the information including the assigned IPv4address to the information processing apparatus but not including theassigned IPv6 address to the infromation processing apparaus.
 14. Themethod according to claim 9, wherein the information processingapparatus is a printing device that executes print processing.
 15. Themethod according to claim 9, further comprising: controlling the writingoperation to the memory of the NFC tag such that starting informationfor causing an external apparatus to start a predetermined applicationand information indicating the assigned IPv4 address are stored in thememory of the NFC tag in a case where both the IPv4 address and the IPv6address are assigned to the infromation processing apparatus.
 16. Anon-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructionsthat, when executed, cause an information processing apparatus toperform a process, the information processing apparatus including anetwork interface and a near field communication (NFC) tag that has amemory, the process comprising: controlling a writing operation to thememory of the NFC tag such that information indicating an InternetProtocol address for communicating with an outside apparatus via thenetwork interface is stored in the memory of the NFC tag, wherein, in asituation that both an Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) address and anInternet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) address are assigned to theinformation processing apparatus as the Internet Protocol address forcommunicating with the outside apparatus via the network interface, thememory of the NFC tag is in a state in which information indicating theassigned IPv4 address is stored but information indicating the assignedIPv6 address is not stored.
 17. The non-transitory computer-readablestorage medium according to claim 16, wherein the process furthercomprises controlling the writing operation to the memory of the NFC tagsuch that information including a provisional IP addressbut notincluding the assigned IPv6 address of the information processingapparatus is stored in the memory of the NFC tag, upon condition thatthe IPv4 address is not assigned to the infromation processing apparatusand the IPv6 address is assigned to the information processingapparatus, and wherein, in a situation that, as the IP address forcommunicating with the outside apparatus via the network interface, theIPv4 address is not assigned so that the IPv4 address is enabled and theIPv6 address is assigned so that the IPv6 address is enabled, the memoryof the NFC tag is in a state in which the information indicating theprovisional IP address is stored but information indicating the assignedIPv6 address is not stored.
 18. The non-transitory computer-readablestorage medium according to claim 17, wherein the provisional IP addressis “0.0.0.0”.
 19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage mediumaccording to claim 17, further comprising: in a case where both the IPv4address and the IPv6 address are assigned to the infromation processingapparatus, generating the information including the assigned IPv4address to the information processing apparatus but not includingassigned IPv6 address to the infromation processing apparaus.
 20. Thenon-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 16,further comprising: controlling the writing operation to the memory ofthe NFC tag such that starting information for causing an externalapparatus to start a predetermined application and informationindicating the assigned IPv4 address are stored in the memory of the NFCtag, in a case where both the IPv4 address and the IPv6 address areassigned to the infromation processing apparatus.